Hi. I just want to share my experience in applying for a Japan tourist visa despite being unemployed at the moment. I was issued a single entry visa for my first trip in 2014 while I was still employed at a Japanese bank. This year, having been unemployed for over 10 months, I tried applying again. Please refer to the following list of documents I submitted this time:
1. Application form
2. Id photo
3. Passport (still using my maiden name)
4. Affidavit of support (notarized) from my husband stating that he will be the one to shoulder my travel expenses since I am now just a housewife.
5. Original Certificate of Employment of my husband.
6. Original Bank Certificate (I submitted one under my married name and not under my husband. I did not want to go through the hassle of transferring funds back and forth from my account to his)
7. Photocopy of my husband's 2014 ITR
8. Daily itinerary
Although not required, I also submitted the following supporting documents:
1. Photocopy of my Certificate of Employment from my 2 most recent employers (including the Japanese bank)
2. Photocopy of my ITR from my 2 most recent employers (including the Japanese bank)
3. Copy of round-trip plane tickets
I also prepared to submit a photocopy of my birth certificate and marriage certificate but the lady at the travel agency returned it to me saying that they no longer need them since I have already submitted originals of such documents during my first visa application. For first time applicants, you must submit originals of these documents. Also note that these documents have a 1 year validity period required by the Japan Embassy.
I paid 1,200 pesos for the visa assistance offered by Reli Tours in SM Southmall as I have done with my first application. I submitted it on Saturday and was ready for pick-up on Thursday morning. I was so surprised that they gave me a multiple entry visa valid for 5 years since I'm now just a plain housewife. Maybe my employment in a Japanese bank helped, I can't really say.
If you read through the requirements from the Japan Embassy website, they require interested applicants to submit a letter of request for a multiple entry visa. I did not submit one. The lady at the agency said that it is not necessary since it really depends on the consul whether or not he will issue you a multiple entry visa based on the documents you submitted even without the letter of request.
So there goes my happy story on how I managed to score this 5 year multiple entry Japan tourist visa. Hope it helps anyone out there who's worried about not getting one because of the sad reality of unemployment.
Btw, I'm coming to Japan next weekend! Yey! :)
